This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
HBO has, quite appropriately, moved up the debut of its documentary "Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds" to Saturday at 7 p.m.
The mother-and-daughter duo, who died with a day of each other earlier this week, were forces to be reckoned with. I interviewed both of them (separately) several times, and they remain among my favorite interviews ever.
"Bright Lights" tells the story "of a family's complicated love." It is "an intimate portrait of Hollywood royalty in all its eccentricity. Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, live in the same Beverly Hills compound. The 83-year-old grand dame still has a Las Vegas act, but performing is taking its toll. Carrie's response is both hilarious and heart-rending. Featuring vintage family films that bring iconic old-world Hollywood to life, as well as extensive vérité footage, the film is directed by Alexis Bloom and Fisher Stevens."
And don't forget that HBO is repeating its 2010 special "Wishful Drinking" on Sunday at 7 p.m. It's Carrie Fisher's one-woman show about her life — and it's hilarious. Even if you've seen it before, it's worth watching again.
• On Sunday, Fox and CBS both start the new year with new shows … and neither one is all that great.
"The Mick" (Sunday, 7 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13), does, at least have potential. It's an intentionally outrageous new comedy about a irresponsible drunk who becomes the guardian to her rich, pampered nieces and nephew.
I kind of like it … but I wish it was funnier.
For more on "The Mick," click here.
"The Mick" moves to Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 3.
And then there's "Ransom" (Sunday, 7 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2) a new series about an expert hostage negotiator and his team, who take on tough situations.
It's OK … but it feels like umpteen other shows we've seen before.
"Ransom" moves to Saturdays at 7 p.m. on Jan. 7.
Friday on TV …
• College football: Liberty Bowl — Georgia vs. TCU (10 a.m., ESPN); Sun Bowl — North Carolina vs. Stanford (noon, CBS/Ch. 2); Music City Bowl — Nebraska vs. Tennessee (1:30 p.m., ESPN); Arizona Bowl — Air Force vs. South Alabama (3:30 p.m., Ch. 14); Orange Bowl — Florida State vs. Michigan (6 p.m., ESPN)
Saturday on TV …
• College football: Citrus Bowl — LSU vs. Louisville (9 a.m., ABC/Ch. 4); TaxSlayer Bowl — Georgia Tech vs. Kentucky (9 a.m., ESPN); Peach Bowl/playoff semifinal — Alabama vs. Washington (1 p.m., ESPN); Fiesta Bowl/playoff semifinal — Clemson vs. Ohio State (5 p.m. ESPN)
• Women's college basketball (2 p.m., BYUtv): Loyola Marymount at BYU
• Men's college basketball: Utah State at Air Force (noon, ROOT); BYU at Loyola Marymount (2 p.m, ROOT)
• NBA (6 p.m., ROOT): Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz
• "New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin" (6 p.m., CNN): Four-and-a-half hours with Anderson and Kathy in Times Square.
• "A Toast to 2016" (7 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): A look back at the year that's ending.
• "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest" (7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): There's a whole lot of Seacrest & Co. on tonight — three hours in prime time and another hour-and-a-half in late night. Among the many performers — Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie.
• "Late Night with Seth Myers: New Year's Eve Special" (9 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Jennifer Lawrence, Arnold Schwarzenegge, Leslie Jones and Kelly Clarkson are the scheduled guests..
• "Pitbull's New Year's Revolution" (11 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): From Miami, scheduled performers are Queen Latifah, Snoop Dogg, Biz Markie, Coolio, Naughty by Nature, Rob Base, Salt-N-Pepa, Tone Loc and Young MC.
• "NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" (11:30 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5): Carson Daly and Mel B. host the countdown in Times Square; scheduled performers include Alicia Keys, Pentatonix, Blake Shelton and Jennifer Lopez.
Sunday on TV …
• NFL: New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (11 a.m., CBS/Ch. 2); Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (11 a.m., Fox/Ch. 13); Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos (2:25 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2); New York Giants at Washington Redskins (2:25 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13); Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions (6:20 p.m., NBC/Ch. 5)
• Men's college basketball (4:30 p.m., ESPNU): Colorado at Utah
• "60 Minutes" (6 p.m, CBS/Ch. 2): Street stops by Chicago police dropped 80 percent and arrests by 33 percent in 2016 — and murders in the city have skyrocketed.
• "Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago" (6 and 8 p.m., CNN): This is not about the city, it's about the band — from its formation in the late 1960s until today.
• "The Librarians" (6 p.m., TNT): The librarians must stop a woman before she launches a love missile that would force the entire world to become her fan base.
• "Great Performances" (6:30 p.m., PBS/Ch. 7): The Vienna Philharmonic celebrates the New Year with Strauss Family waltzes. Julie Andrews hosts.
• "The Bachelor" (7 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Oh my hell — there's actually a preview episode titled "Countdown to Nick."
• "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (7:30 and 8 p.m., Fox/Ch. 13): In a two-parter, former NFL star Marshawn Lynch is the only witness to an escape from a prison van.
• "Pure Genius" (8 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): James attempts a radical treatment on a young man ravaged by a drug-resistant strain of HIV.
• "To Tell the Truth" (8 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): Panelists Ashley Graham, Jalen Rose, Angela Kinsey and Donald Faison.
• "Sherlock on Masterpiece" (8 and 9:36 p.m., PBS/Ch. 7): In "The Six Thatchers," Sherlock Holmes returns to Britain as Watson and his wife prepare for their first child. (Season premiere)
• "Conviction" (9 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4): The team looks into the case of a woman serving a life sentence for murdering a college basketball star she accused of rape.
• "Sister Wives" (9 p.m., TLC): Meri meets another woman catfished by Sam; Mariah makes a big announcement.
• "The Royals" (11 p.m, E!): The palace prepares to announce earth-shattering news.
• "The Affair" (11 p.m., Showtime): Noah tries to repair his relationship with Martin.